Knockdown hen-hovel



(ModeL) J. M. HOLLADAY. KNOOKDOWN HEN HOVEL.

Patented Aug. 2

WifIJQSSZS Futon.

ATENT JOHN M. HOLLADAY, OF HOLLADAY, VIRGINIA.

KNOCKDOWN HEN-HOVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,942, dated August2, 1892.

Application filed August 5, 1891. Serial No. 401,768. (ModeL) To allwhom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN M. HOLLADAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at I-Iolladay, in the county of Spottsylvania and State ofVirginia, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Hen-Hovels, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to poultry culture and the care and protection ofdomestic fowls, and more especially to the hen hovels or coops used inthe art, as in cases where a hen and her brood are to be protected; andthe object of the same is to produce an improved portable hovel or coopwhich will be cheap of man ufacture, simple in operation, vermin-proof,and strong enough to protect the fowls from the elements and from hawksby day, as well as from rats, minks, and other animals by night.

To this end the invention consists in a knockdown chicken-coop orhen-hovel constructed substantially as hereinafter more fully describedand claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings, wherein Figure1 is a perspective view of this improved hovel in operative position.Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof when flattened out, as for storage ortransportation. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail showing the various partsas slightly separated.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter B designates the roof of thisimproved device, which roof is preferably a rectangular sheet offlexible metal.

F is the front end wall and R is the rear end member, each end memberbeing also preferably of sheet metal with straight base and sides androunded upper edge, as shown. Each end wall is hinged along one side, asat H, to the roof, parallel with and adjacent to one of the longitudinalsides.

The roof is provided near its ends with a crease C, which may be formedby stamping or otherwise, this crease extending from the hingethroughout the length of the body parallel with its edge. Theperipheries of the end walls and roof are preferably turned-over wires,as is usual in forming beads in metal, as shown at E. The two ends arepreferably hinged to the roof near the opposite edges of the latter, sothat they may be turned inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, and will lie fiaton the body, and the device at this time may be stored away or packed insmall compass for transportation.

WVhen it is desired to set up the hen house or hovel, the end walls areraised from the roof so as to stand in planes at right angles thereto,and the roof is then bent over the rounded upper edges of the end wallsinto the shape shown Fig. 1, the creases O at this time closely fittingover the upper rounded edges of the two ends, and the body is locked inthis position by any suitable means. The look I preferably employconsists of a sheath S, extending transversely across the outer face ofeach end near its base, a wire WV extending loosely through said sheathand having its extremities X turned at right angles to its body and intoplanes at right angles to each other, and a slot or opening 0 throughthe crease O in the body at a proper point to register with the outerextremity of said wire. When the device is set up, the wires are turnedso that their outer extremities will be vertical and the openings 0 arepassed over them. The wires are then turned until these extremities havebeen moved down to horizontal positions, and at this time the innerextremities will bear against the outer faces of the ends and preventfurther turning of the wires, all as best seen in Fig. 1.

The front end wall F is provided near its lower edge with a large holeL, andin its body near its upper edge are one or more small holes Z. Dis a disk-shaped door centrally pivoted, as at P, to the central pointof the front end F, and the lower side of this door is cut away, as seenat A, while the body of the door has one or more small apertures a.These apertures may be brought into register to a greater or less extentwith the holes Z, whereby the device may be ventilated, and when thecut-away portion A is caused to re,,- ister with the large hole L a dooris opened which will permit the passage of the small chickens, but notof the mother, or which may be large enough to permit the passage offullgrown fowls if the device be made on a large scale.

As above stated, I prefer to use sheet-tin (or galvanized iron) for thishovel or coop, as the same is vermin-proof, cannot be eaten by rats, iswater-proof, and if painted or otherwise treated will not rust, andseveral hovels may be painted different colors, so that the broods canbe distinguished at a glance and from a distance.

It will be obvious that changes in the details of the invention may bemade. For instance, a different latch or look might be employed. I mightuse a different door, or in some cases by having the material Wholly orpartially perforated or reticulated suificient Ventilation Will result.The shape of the device might be changed, as by pointing the upper edgesof the ends and roof, or a bottom might be supplied, and, if desired, atrans verse partition, each end being then provided with a door. Thesesuggestions are merely thrown out to show that in manufacturing thisimproved device considerable change therein and many additions theretomay be made, as the requirements of the purchaser may demand or thefancy of the manufacturer may direct.

\Vhat is claimed as new is- 1. A knockdown hen-hovel comprising aflexible roof and end walls hinged each at one side to the body member,said roof extending over the side and upper edges of the end Walls andforming the top and sides of the hen-hovel and the sides of said endmembers which are not hinged to the roof being detachably secured to thesame, substantially as described.

2. A knockdown hen-hovel comprising a flexible roof provided withcreases O and Walls, each hinged at one side to the roof and providedwith means for detachably securingits other side to the roof, the bodymember being extended over the end Walls to form the top and sides ofthe hovel and having the edges of the end Walls arranged in its creases,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JNO. M. ITOLLADAY.

Witnesses:

ROY WM. DAYTON, JOHN A. SAUL.

